Sliding through life

Saturday, October 28, 2006

Sunday Church Sign

Thursday, October 26, 2006

Tobacco Farming

Here are some pictures of tobacco when it is being cut. When I was a kid growing up we grew tobacco. It is work all year long. In the first picture is the tobacco and part of it is cut. Then from there they put it on the wagons and haul it to the barns where it is hung up. Some people have these top covered long sheds, well they aren't sheds as they run the whole length of the field, so they are long! In the one picture you can see it has no tobacco in it and then it does have tobacco hanging in it. With it having no sides maybe it cures better but then it is exposed more to the elements, so I'm not sure if that is better or not. It probably is since you see a lot of those nowadays. It sure would be easier to hang it in them rather than in a barn, like we always did. In the last pictures you see the tobacco hanging in the barn where it will cure and then be taken down and the leaves will be stripped off. We had a stripping room with a long bench along one side. Stripping is always done in the cold weather so we had a wood stove for heat. It is a stinky dusty job and the tobacco gum sticks to your hands until they are coated. We tied the leaves in hands and put them on sticks and they were then put in a press to mash them down and that is how they went to market. Now they just strip the leaves off and press up bales most of the time.

I never was involved in cutting the tobacco thankfully!! My Dad would hire a crew to help cut. My Mom and I would have to cook dinner for all them. She always had a feast. We had chickens and she would kill a couple and we fried them, and she usually had homemade biscuits, gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans and a couple more vegetable dishes, sliced onions, sliced tomatoes, and then cakes and pies to follow it all up with. Believe me, no one went back to work hungry and if they did it was their own fault! Then she and I had all the dish washing to clean up.

I recall when I was younger I always wanted to go to the barn when they were cutting the tobacco and hanging it, but my Dad wouldn't let me. I kept after him with, "Why Daddy, Why can't I come to the barn??" He told me that a little girl didn't need to be around a bunch of old men. Again I said, "Why Daddy?" He said, "Well Rachel, men are just a bunch of old brutes and a little girl does not need to be around them." At that time I wasn't sure what an old brute was but I figured it meant they passed gas or burped and didn't excuse themselves or maybe they cussed. At any rate I stayed away from the barn when the "old brutes" were there working!!

Monday, October 23, 2006

The Color of Fall

Yesterday afternoon I took a drive to see some fall colors. It was a drab day with mostly no sun, and around 50 degrees. So a good day for a drive. Starting off here are the first colors I saw.

I came to this bridge that crossed over the railroad tracks. That was a high bridge too and kind of gave me the willies getting close to the edge to take the pictures, since I'm not a big fan of heights. But the view was worth it.

Next I came to this sign and so I decided I just had to drive down Dead Ox Hollow Road!

This was the view driving down Dead Ox Hollow Road and eventually I crossed another bridge going back over the railroad tracks again.

Finally I drove into a park and saw 3 deers. I got the picture of this one as they hurried across the road.

Friday, October 20, 2006

"Why Did I Get in That Check Out Lane??"

Cooler weather is here. The leaves are changing colors fast now. This picture was taken about a week ago and they have changed a whole lot since then.

This next picture shows the cosmos in the yard. They are truly at their peak right now.

Yesterday I was in Kroger shopping. There was only 3 lanes open. One was the 10 items or less. One was the 15 items or less. Only one lane for the regular folks like me, who had about 20 items or so. The girl in front of me had a cart that was full. Her total came up to the $135 range. She was paying with her food stamp card and she only had $85 left on it. So she started taking things out to return until she had gotten it down to what she could afford. She gave back milk, a huge bag of sugar, several packages of bacon, and lots of boxed frozen items. I normally think "Why did I get in this lane," but there was no other lane for me to get in! I was patient but I could tell the girl at the register was not real excited by it. The baggers had to take all the things she couldn't afford back and put it up. I wanted to tell her why she didn't carry a calculator with her so she could keep better tabs on what she was spending. Without a calculator I can come pretty close most of the time, but she was waaaayyyy out of her range. She offered no apologies to anyone. I would have been embarrassed to no end if it had of been me. Finally they got her back down to her range and she left. I asked the cashier if that happened often. She said it happened sometimes but not to that extent, that sometimes people might run over a few dollars and have to put back a couple of items, but this was extreme. I agree.

It's Friday and another week almost over. They sure go along at a fast pace. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Mules, Mules, Mules

Look at this little mule. Isn't he cute with 4 white legs!! Unusual to see a mule this color. I got to see this a couple of weeks ago when I took a drive in the country with my neighbor and we stopped by a barn where there were several of these.

The man that owns the place was just getting ready to go for a ride on this mule. This one also has the 4 white legs and appropriately was called "Stockings." This mule is 2 years old and this was going to be the 3rd time that it had been ridden. They were all so gentle.

This is the Papa. He decided to have a roll in the dust!

You have probably seen those bumper stickers that say "I stop for yard sales." I should have one that says, "I stop for horses, mules, goats, you name it!"

Sunday, October 15, 2006

Country Doctor

How about that country doctor...

A young doctor had moved out to a small community to replace the retiring country doctor. The older doctor suggested the young one accompany him on his rounds so the community could become used to a new doctor.

At the first house a woman complained, "I've been a little sick to my stomach."The older doctor said, "Well, you've probably been overdoing the fresh fruit. Why not cut back on the amount you've been eating and see if that does the trick?"

As they left the younger man said, "You didn't even examine that woman. How did you arrive at your diagnosis so quickly?"

"I didn't have to. You noticed I dropped my stethoscope on the floor in there? When I bent over to pick it up, I noticed a half-dozen banana peels in the trash. That was what probably was making her sick."

"Huh," the younger doctor said, "pretty clever. I think I'll try that at the next house."

Arriving at the next house, they spent several minutes talking with a younger woman. She complained that she just didn't have the energy she once did. "I'm feeling terribly run down lately."

"You've probably been doing too much work for the church," the younger doctor told her. "Perhaps you should cut back a bit and see if that helps."

As they left, the elder doc said, "Your diagnosis is almost certainly correct, but how did you arrive at it?"

"Well, just as you did at the last house, I dropped my stethoscope and when I bent down to retrieve it, I saw the preacher under the bed."

Saturday, October 14, 2006

Sunday Sign

Friday, October 13, 2006

Basket Making

My neighbor taught me how to make a basket. She was going to teach a couple of other ladies and asked me if I wanted to sit in and make one as well. I told her I would. This first picture is the finished basket that I made that day. We dyed it with walnut stain.

This was a very fun thing to do and I enjoyed it immensely. It took us about 5 hours to make that first basket. There is some prep work with measuring out reed and marking and cutting. Then you have to soak it in warm water before you work with it. She had cooked up some walnut hulls and then strained them. When the baskets were finished she put the gallon of stain in two trash bags with a basket and shook it real good (like Shake-N-Bake). Then you simply have to let the basket dry. After all the baskets were dyed then she saved the stain that was left over for future basket staining. This basket is called a hearth basket and is pretty big. I immediately wanted to make another one while it was fresh in my mind. She had enough materials for me to make one so I just paid her for the materials and in the next couple of days I made another basket. The picture below shows what it looks like near the beginning. I made some errors but was able to fix them without having to run across the road and ask for help from her.

Here are pictures of the second basket I made (all by myself - :) whoohoo!!) but it has not been stained yet. I plan to get some walnuts and make a batch of walnut stain for myself to have on hand.

Next we are going to make a potato basket, a melon basket, and an egg basket! I find that basket making is challenging and in ways it is relaxing. There is some weaving to do and that is relaxing. Goofing up is not relaxing!! In the baskets we make all ends must be hid, there is no glueing, staples, or tacks. All natural, even the stain. She said that once you make a basket that you will never look at baskets the same way again. It's true. There is a lot of work involved when you do it by hand.

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Creek Wading Thoughts

On my Sunday afternoon drive I went back to this creek. I just loved it. You can see how clear and clean it is. I wanted to take my shoes off and go wading but it was too chilly. Lots of people ride 4-wheelers back there and horses. I was amazed that there was no trash. I love the little pebbles in this stream and could just imagine my bare feet walking on them and scrunching up my toes to get that good feeling. Today we have a chance for severe thunderstorms as a cold front moves through bringing us colder air, so I doubt I get to go wading anytime soon. Today is in the 70's. Tomorrow is supposed to be in the 50's. Won't be long before we have to get out our good old comfy long handled underwear! Wonder where that name long handled underwear came from? Anyone know?

Monday, October 09, 2006

Beautiful Country Views

Yesterday afternoon after church I went for a drive. It was such a pretty day and I took these great pictures. Aren't these lovely views? You can see some color in the leaves too. I love that old farmhouse with the two barns and all the cattle. Just beeyoutiful.

Saturday, October 07, 2006

A Year of Blogging!! Woohoo!!!

I let my year of blogging anniversary pass right on by. But it has been a year and....a few days. Hey, still not too late to celebrate!!

I somehow started reading some blogs and then I found Cliff's blog. I started leaving comments on his. After all he seemed like a nice fellow, a farmer, nice family, a sense of humor, and very witty.Here he is celebrating something! Cliff was also the first one to post a comment on my blog.

I noticed in looking back that it was this month last year that Jerry went out to visit Cliff and recieved the "ceremonial cornknife." Then I started reading Jerry's blog.

So after awhile I decided to start my own blog. It has been a lot of fun and I have met some really nice folks through blogging! It's really amazing this technology and blogging. I don't get to blog as often or read and comment on as many blogs as I would like to, but still ......blogging friends are so special. Thanks to all who stop by and read and visit. I wish I could read more of your blogs and comment more. Hugs to all of you.

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Creepy Crawly Acorn Heads

I'm not sure what these things are but I find them around here sometimes. Outside that is. They are pretty big, about 4 inches long. I usually see them out on the driveway or crawling up the wall of the garage. I just wondered if anyone knew the proper name for these? I generally pick them up and toss them over the hill. I guess that could be considered cruelty to worms? Or cruelty to a creepy crawly?

Here I am with all my blogging friends. I am in the 3rd row from the top, 4th from the left, the one with the nice brown face! We pretty much all look alike don't we? You know who you are so you can pick yourself out! And yes, green was the handiest marker I could find.

Monday, October 02, 2006

Random Things

I know you are probably tired of looking at my mushrooms but I just had to post these two pictures. I found these in my neighbor's yard today. Doesn't that big cluster of them look like a face? You can also see part of my shadow. The single mushroom was like the cluster, only just all alone. Amazing how this rainy weather we have had lately has brought out all these different mushrooms!

Before when I had posted some pictures around the cabin someone had asked me to post a picture of the cabin, so here it is. This is where I live. Not very big but quite cozy actually. I love the front porch.

This is Chunky Monkey on the sofa. With the color of the sofa and the throw I have on it and the color of the cat, it's hard to see her. Cats sure know how to relax don't thay?